Hurricane proof wind turbines are essential for remote Caribbean islands, where renewable energy systems must combine reliable power generation with resilience against extreme weather. On Necker Island, these requirements were particularly challenging: equipment had to reach a site with limited infrastructure, installation had to be completed without the heavy machinery normally required by conventional wind projects, and the entire system had to be prepared for some of the world’s most severe weather conditions.
On Necker Island, in the British Virgin Islands, Northern Power Systems addressed these challenges with three NPS100C 100 kW wind turbines engineered as part of a resilient hybrid renewable energy system.
The project demonstrates how hurricane proof wind turbines, innovative foundations and site-specific engineering can make wind energy viable even in isolated and climate-exposed environments.
The Challenge
Necker Island is a remote Caribbean island operating independently from the mainland electricity grid. Its energy system historically relied on three 400 kVA diesel generator sets, making local electricity production dependent on imported fuel.
Reducing this dependency meant overcoming three major challenges.
First, logistics. Every major component had to be transported by sea to an island with limited construction infrastructure. Conventional wind turbine installations requiring large cranes, extensive excavation and concrete foundations would have added considerable complexity and cost.
Second, energy reliability. As a completely off-grid site, Necker Island requires a continuous and dependable electricity supply, making the reliability of every component of the energy system particularly important.
Finally, the island is located in a region frequently exposed to severe tropical storms and Category 5 hurricanes. This required hurricane resistant wind turbines capable of generating electricity efficiently while providing a practical strategy to protect critical infrastructure when extreme weather approaches.
The need for extreme-weather resilience is particularly relevant in the British Virgin Islands. In 2017, Hurricane Irma crossed Virgin Gorda as a Category 5 hurricane, highlighting the severe weather conditions that energy infrastructure in the region may face.
The Northern Power Systems Solution
Northern Power Systems supplied three NPS100C 100 kW hurricane proof wind turbines, creating a total installed wind capacity of 300 kW.
The turbines were integrated into the island’s hybrid energy system alongside more than 1,230 solar PV panels and battery energy storage, helping reduce the amount of electricity that needs to be generated from diesel.
The solution was engineered around the specific constraints of Necker Island.
Instead of conventional concrete foundations, Northern Power Systems worked with ARE Structures to implement AFS 2000 ballasted foundations. The system uses locally available soil and excavated rock as ballast, significantly reducing the need to transport construction materials to the island and simplifying civil works.
Components could also be transported using standard shipping containers, while installation was completed by a small crew without requiring the massive crawler cranes typically associated with wind turbine construction.
Hurricane Resistant Wind Turbines Engineered for Extreme Weather
One of the project’s defining features is the use of 22-meter hydraulic tilt-up towers.
During normal conditions, the turbines operate in the island’s trade winds and generate renewable electricity for the microgrid. When a major hurricane approaches, the hydraulic system allows the towers and turbines to be safely lowered toward the ground.
Once lowered, the turbines can be positioned behind the terrain’s natural wind shadow, dramatically reducing their exposure to the aerodynamic forces generated by extreme winds.
After the storm has passed and conditions are safe, the turbines can be raised again and returned to operation.
This approach makes the system particularly suitable for hurricane-prone islands, combining renewable energy production with a practical strategy for protecting critical infrastructure during extreme weather events.
Results
The results achieved at Necker Island demonstrate how hurricane proof wind turbines can combine extreme-weather resilience with high energy performance.
Between 2020 and 2026, the three Northern Power Systems turbines generated approximately 6.3 GWh of wind energy, averaging around 301 MWh per turbine per year.
Throughout the same period, the system achieved an average availability of 98.6%, demonstrating high operational reliability despite the challenging remote and marine environment.
Combined with solar PV and battery storage, wind generation has helped significantly reduce the island’s dependence on diesel. The project is estimated to have displaced approximately 1.8 million litres of diesel and avoided nearly 4,830 tonnes of CO₂ emissions.
From an economic perspective, the project was designed around a targeted return on investment of approximately four years.
Benefits Beyond Energy Production
For Necker Island, the value of the project extends beyond the renewable electricity generated by the three turbines.
Reducing diesel consumption means fewer fuel deliveries, lower exposure to fuel price volatility and less reliance on conventional generation.
At the same time, the engineering choices behind the project directly address the challenges of operating renewable energy infrastructure in an isolated environment. The ballasted foundations and containerized components simplify transportation and installation, while the hydraulic tilt-up towers facilitate access for inspection and maintenance.
Most importantly, the ability to lower the turbines when extreme weather approaches provides an effective response to one of the greatest challenges facing wind projects in the Caribbean: hurricane exposure.
Together, these features create an energy solution designed around the realities of operating on a remote island rather than forcing conventional wind infrastructure into an unsuitable environment.
A Blueprint for Remote and Hurricane-Prone Islands
Necker Island demonstrates what is possible when wind technology, infrastructure and site-specific engineering are designed as a single system.
The combination of hurricane proof wind turbines, ballasted foundations, hydraulic tilt-up towers and hybrid microgrid integration provides a replicable approach for remote islands and other isolated locations seeking to reduce diesel dependency without compromising energy reliability.
For more than 40 years, Northern Power Systems has developed and deployed wind energy solutions in remote and challenging environments around the world.
Looking for hurricane proof wind turbines for a remote or climate-exposed site? Contact Northern Power Systems to discover how our technology can be engineered around the specific requirements of your site.